Tenants

Services for tenants
We provide a range of solutions designed to help tenants

Tenant’s help zone

We specialise in the property rental sector, providing services to landlords, letting agents and tenants.

If this is your first time renting or if you’ve decided to move house, we know that this can be a daunting time. But rest assured, we’re here to help and get you ready to move in to your new home with the minimum of hassle.

We work alongside your landlord or letting agent to ensure your referencing process works as efficiently as possible.

The referencing process

Firstly, you’ll need to complete our application form.

Our reference application forms are online. The Top 10 Tips list will help you to complete the required sections, but if there is something you want to ask that isn’t answered below, please call our friendly team on 0344 567 4001 or email hello@legalforlandlords.co.uk

Once we’ve received the form, we’ll get straight to work, with a credit check.

If the landlord or letting agent has requested a Complete Tenant Reference we will also contact your employer and any current landlord, if you have one, to obtain a reference. If you’re not currently in employment employed or don’t have an existing landlord, we will need to see proof of your income to make sure you meet our affordability criteria.

If you are acting as a guarantor, we will need to check your details as described above.

Right to rent checks

People who are allowed to be in the UK have a right to rent, and checking at the start of a tenancy is now a statutory requirement. Everyone over the age of 18 who will live in the property, using it as their main or only home, must be checked, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement.

The process is quite simple. You will have to provide documentation to the landlord or letting agent. They will check the document in your presence, take a copy and keep it for their records. Suitable documentation includes passports, Home Office Residence permits and EU identity cards. A full list and more information can be found at the Government’s website.

Top 10 tips for reference applicants

Applicant & Guarantor Details

This form is used for both prospective tenants and guarantors. If you’re applying to be a tenant, complete the form in full. If you are applying to be a guarantor, then please note that you will be liable for the rent if the tenant fails to pay.

Bank Details

These will not be used to take any payments, but we need to check that you have an active UK bank account in your name. We cannot view the details once they are submitted, or amend them, so please make sure they are entered correctly.

Address History

We need address details that cover a minimum of the last three years. If you need to enter more than two addresses, use the additional notes section and don’t forget to tell us the length of time you lived at that address. If there is a flat or apartment number that you cannot select, please include these details in the additional notes section.

Salary Information

Quote your salary in round pounds (e.g. 24000) and do not use decimal points or commas. If you receive a basic salary with a bonus and/or additional commission, you will need to provide a minimum of 6 months’ payslips to support this.

Employer

We will only accept company related email addresses. Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail addresses are not acceptable. Make sure that the person you intend our team to contact knows that we will be getting in touch. If you do not have a specific contact for a reference, please enter the referee name as ‘HR Department’ and provide a telephone number and email address for that department. Please do not provide a mobile number as we can only contact employers on a company landline.

Self Employed

If you are self-employed, please supply details of your accountant or your last 6 months’ bank statements. These will need to be in a non-editable format. You can also forward copies of your most recent tax return.

Company Directors

If you are employed by your own company as a director, please select ‘self-employed’ and provide details of your accountant so that we can confirm your income. If possible, please upload your most recent set of company accounts.

Maternity Pay

Use the additional notes section to give us your return-to-work date and to tell us if there will be any adjustment to your contracted hours when you return to work. Please tell us if you are receiving full pay or statutory maternity pay.

Landlords - existing

Please check with the letting agents that they can provide a reference for you before you submit the form. Note that some agents will charge you a fee or advise you that the landlord of the property will provide your reference.

Application Form Timescale

The application form is time sensitive. All mandatory sections will have a RED line prefix at the start. The application form must be submitted within 20 minutes. If you have any problems with the application form, any errors will be highlighted in BLUE text.